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Crowds flock to carnival day

AN RAF Falcon parachute display team and BMX tricksters wowed the crowds at Penarth Summer Festival’s Carnival Day over the weekend.

The forecasted torrential rain held off and local residents enjoyed brilliant sunshine in an action-packed day full of festival fun on Saturday.

The ever-popular Carnival Parade started from West House and, led by the town crier Dave Horgan, walked through the town centre to the beat of the Samba drum.

The Classic and American Muscle cars started off the parade and were followed by a number of local groups and organisations decked in fancy dress.

Once they arrived at the Esplanade a prize giving ceremony was held for the best fancy dress outfits in a range of categories.

Throughout the day there was a wide range of Carnival Day activities to keep the children entertained, from a climbing wall, bouncy castle, inflatable slide and Merry Go Round, to stalls from the likes of Penarth Coastguards, a Penarth RNLI Lifeboat open-day, craft stalls and a number of other local groups giving information about their work.

There were also the traditional candy floss stalls, a Punch and Judy show on the pier, and other entertainment.

From 3pm spectators eagerly gathered on the Cliff Tops to await the arrival of the RAF Falcons parachute display team. As eight crew, including Penarthians Sergeant Chris Williams and Corporal Ryan Norris, jumped from the aircraft at 6000feet they descended onto the pitch and putt golf course at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour.

Flight Lieutenant Ollie Smith, who led the group, said: “It was challenging wind conditions, which makes the guys jobs a little bit harder, but they landed in the Drop Zone and I’m really proud of them.”

After craning their necks to watch the team land on the Cliff Tops festival visitors were treated to an RNLI rescue display on Penarth beach.

A casualty with a pink wig was left stricken in the waters by the inshore lifeboat, before the B Class Lifeboat ‘Maureen Lilian’ was launched to save the swimmer.

After the rescue Team Extreme carried out a number of death-defying BMX and roller skate stunts near the Penarth Lifeboat Station that wowed the crowds and left them speechless.

Throughout the day there was also attractions on the Cliff Tops, including the Classic and American Muscle cars, an inflatable go-kart track, a rescue helicopter, and the Cliff Top artists exhibition.

Late into the night the spectacular fireworks display brought an end to the day’s proceedings.

The day had started with motor enthusiast flocking to Upper Glebe Street to catch a glimpse of a Formula 1 car from the 1980’s and a customised Aryton Senna Mercedes that had been painstakingly restored over the last ten years.

There was also the Tenovus Man Van, providing advice and support to men concerned about prostate and testicular cancer, as well as the Tenovus choir, face painting, a bike raffle, food stalls, and goody bags for the children.

John Bruno managed to get the sports cars down for the fun day thanks to his brother’s company Paul Bruno Motor Sport, and also invited the Tenovus ManVan and choir down too as he has previously fundraised for the cancer charity.

Fitness instructor John Bruno said that hundreds of people attended the day and that "its all about community spirit".

On the Sunday the fun continued with the Penarth Food Festival at The Kymin showcasing local produce and attracting visitors from far and wide.

Ipsoregulated

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